Howe issues Isak injury update ahead of crunch Everton clash | OneFootball

Eddie Howe has said that Alexander Isak has a ‘chance’ to feature in the Newcastle’s crunch clash with Everton this weekend.

Newcastle host Everton at St James’ Park on the final weekend and will secure a place in the Champions League with a win.

However, dropped points could see Newcastle miss out, with just a point separating the Magpies in third and Nottingham Forest in seventh.

Isak missed the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal last weekend and is yet to return to training with the squad. However, Howe has said the club’s leading scorer is making ‘good progress’ and is a chance to make Sunday’s game. Isak has scored 27 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions this season.

“He’s doing OK. He hasn’t trained with us yet, but he’s made good progress through the week,” Howe said at his pre-match press conference.

“The next couple of days will be absolutely crucial to his availability on Sunday.

“There’s a chance. It is difficult to give anymore than that really.

“Until he trains with us we won’t fully know how he responds. At the minute, he has an opportunity.”

Howe is on the verge of leading Newcastle to Champions League qualification for the second time in three seasons. However, the Magpies’ manager is taking nothing for granted.

“By no means is it a given. Everton have been difficult to beat and haven’t conceded a lot of goals.

“They have threats in their team as well. So, we have to be focused and concentrate on what we need to do to win the game.

“I don’t think we can look for any favours of anybody – we can only do our bit.

“For us, we know what we have to do.”

On how disappointed he would be to miss out on the Champions League, Howe added: “Football emotions swing so quickly. In that moment it will feel like a huge disappointment because we have been in there fighting for two-thirds of the season.

“If we miss out it will be a tough one to take.

“We know what we need to do and what we want to do. All our emotions are towards that.”

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